The Latest: Reporting during chemo; Nobel Peace Prize for press freedom; Who's an emerging leader?

October 8, 2021

This newsletter will be off for a long weekend and will return to your inboxes on Tuesday, October 12.

■ CNN journalist Andrew Kaczynski lost his daughter to cancer last year. He’s running the Boston Marathon to build her a legacy. (boston.com) / Reporting during chemotherapy : The AP’s Meg Kinnard shares her story (CNN)

■ Google announces new efforts to protect journalists and high-risk users from cyberattacks (ZDNet)

■ The case for media ownership reparations (Hollywood Reporter)

■ Jon Stewart’s back. Here’s why we should care. (Politico)

Journalists awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov have been awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Ressa has emerged as one of the leading voices for press freedom in the Philippines amid threats to independent journalism in the country. She was convicted in the Philippines last year on trumped-up charges of cyber libel and has been the target of repeated efforts by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte to silence her. Ressa was the National Press Club’s 2020 John Aubuchon Press Freedom award winner.

Muratov co-founded Novaya Gazeta, “the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power,” according to the Nobel committee.

The Nobel Committee elaborated on the importance of press freedom in its announcement: “Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press, it will be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament and a better world order to succeed in our time.”

Related headlines

■ 'Hearing from Maria is a tonic for journalists . She reminds us of all that is best in our profession. … Her voice reminds us of our role in democracy, and of our place in the world.' (National Press Club/Journalism Institute) / What Maria Ressa's Nobel Prize means for Filipino reporters (Time) / Maria Ressa’s Nobel peace prize win is an indictment of Facebook (Quartz)

■ Nobel winner Dmitry Muratov's newspaper has long been a thorn in Putin's side (CNN) / Kremlin lauds ‘brave’ journalist Muratov (Al Jazeera)

■ The Nobel committee sent a message that freedom of the press is essential for peace (Time)

Join Maria Ressa at this year's Fourth Estate Gala to honor press freedom, investigative journalism, and excellence in service to democracy. Reserve your seat now.

Watch her accept the 2020 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award:

2020 Fourth Estate Award Gala - Maria Ressa Aubuchon Press Freedom Award

New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly to donate signed press freedom illustration for Fourth Estate Award Gala

Advocates of the independent, free press can display their support with an exclusive signed print from renowned cartoonist and writer Liza Donnelly.

Donnelly has generously contributed prints of her illustration commemorating the importance of the free press in democracy, in conjunction with this year’s Fourth Estate Award Gala. The gala will take place on Oct. 20, and tickets are available through Wednesday, Oct. 13.

The artist’s live digital reporting and cartoons have been featured in The New Yorker, where she has been a staff artist since 1979; on CBS News, NBC, and CNN; and in Forbes, Fusion, Medium, Narrative, Politico, The Daily Beast, Open Salon, The Huffington Post, and Women’s eNews, among others.

The 2021 Fourth Estate Award Gala honoring “NBC Nightly News” and “Dateline NBC” anchor Lester Holt will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20. The celebration will take place at the National Press Club and online, with Holt joining the event live from New York to accept his award.

Donnelly has graciously agreed to print and autograph a copy of the illustration for anyone who donates $150 or more during the evening’s festivities. The high-quality signed 5”x7” print would make a unique holiday gift for your favorite journalist or for a proud display in your home or office.

Get your gala ticket now

Managers: It's time to re-think how we bless certain people as 'emerging leaders'

It’s wonderful to have support from above, but it’s not always there. I’ve coached more than a few managers in their quest to redeem employees when top bosses wrote them off because of some mistake, negative interaction, or pure bias. When you know an assessment is unjust, bulk up your strategy, skills and courage to become an advocate for the misjudged. It can be done.

You know my mantra: the most important thing leaders do is help others succeed . It’s time to ensure that journalists we’ve neglected can succeed – as our leaders.

-- Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago and Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership

Get more career advice: Read Jill's columns | Watch Manager's Minute videos

Resources

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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